america's congressional leaders 40 days to avoid fiscal cliff, republicans ac like they are willing to give in on taxes, what is the president going to do? what is his big com compromise. >> ed klein, joins me next. we use this board to compare car insurance rates side by side so you get the same coverage, often for less. that's one smart board. what else does it do, reverse gravity? [ laughs ] [ laughs ] [ whooshing ] tell me about it. why am i not going anywhere? you don't believe hard enough. a smarter way to shop around. now that's progressive. call or click today. [ grunting ] lou: well joining us now to analyze the obama administration's shifting contradictory statements about benghazi and development in middle east, cease fear, and the thought of the looming fiscal cliff, author of the amateur, a book on the inside of the obama administration, ed klein. veteran political consultant, and strategist hank shin and goo have you here. starting with you, idea has kit rip just reported that thanksgiving eve, ambassador rice makes herself available to the press, what is she doing? >> tr